A Chinese folk saying "Taking radish in winter and ginger in summer would keep doctor away." tells us that radish is a kind of nutrient-rich food and proper to eat in winter.

Speaking of radish, there is such kind of green specialty in Tianjin called "Tainjinwei Radish" and also named "Shawo Radish" after Xiaoshawo Village, Xinkou Town, Xiqing District, the place of origin.

Xiaoshawo Village has been famous for radish planting since over 600 years ago. Shawo Radish, which is cultivated in special sandy soil, tastes refreshing and sweet. So it has been known as "Saiyali" (tasty than pear) since the Qing Dynasty. Now, it is a popular Chinese specialty imported to Japan, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao.

A picking up area has been open to the public at the intersection of China National Highway 104 and Shaqing Road, Xinkou Town, Xiqing District, next to Shawo Radish Cultural Experience Hall.

A field about 6mu broad is spread all over with greenhouses of various radishes, such as local radish, fruit radish, Baolai radish and Fengli radish.

Local Shawo radish looks like a green cylinder. The crisp and refreshing flesh is wrapped by fine and smooth skin. Fruit radish looks exactly like local ones but the taste is a little sweeter. Shawo radish are well received for its special succulent taste, a little sweet and a little spicy. If you cannot endure any spicy taste of radish, eat only the flesh would be ok.

A foretaste is allowed before picking. Kindly farmers will pull you a big radish from the field and cut it into pieces for guests to taste. There is also a trick to pull radishes that if you pull it clockwise, the radish could be clean without much mud.

Oppidans would like taking their children to pick up at the weekend. Small "farmers" are always happy to get close to nature; adults could also get satisfactory food materials for soup, cold dish and other delicacies. Radish leaves are also edible, usually eaten raw with sauce.

Shawo Radish is a kind of pollution-free food high in nutritive value. It is rich in saccharide, cellulose, vitamin and crude protein, as well as aids digestion.

As long as you love eating radishes, "Shawo Radish" of Tianjin should be in your to-eat list.